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Amoeba chironomi, nov. sp., Parasitic in the Alimentary Tract of the Larva of a Chironomus

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 April 2009

Annie Porter
Annie Porter
Affiliation:
Zoological Research Laboratory, University College, London.
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Extract

Amoeba chironomi, nov. sp., is distributed through practically the entire length of the digestive tract of the larva of Chironomus.

The body of A. chironomi varies from 15μ, to 18μ in length and from 10μ. to 12μ in breadth. The single pseudopodium may reach 15μ in length; one pseudopodium only is usually present.

Ectoplasm and endoplasm are well differentiated. A nucleus and a contractile vacuole are present. Food vacuoles are rare. The contractile vacuole resembles an iris diaphragm, consisting of a series of fine, curved, radiating canaliculi, opening into a central space. The excretory products are faintly reddish in colour. The presence of a contractile vacuole is uncommon in parasitic Amoebae.

The nucleus is poor in chromatin. A nucleolus is present.

A. chironomi is highly sensitive to the degree of concentration of the medium in which it lives. Very slight increase in density causes the organism to encyst.

Encystment occurs in the rectum of the host, and the cysts are voided with the faeces. The cysts are from 12μ. to 20μ long and from 9μ broad. The process of encystment is rapid.

The method of cross-infection of the host is probably a “casual” one, viz. by the mouth.

Type
Research Article
Information
Parasitology , Volume 2 , Issue 1-2 , May 1909 , pp. 32 - 41
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1909

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References

REFERENCES

Bütschli, O. (1878). Amoeba blattae. Zeitschr. f. wiss. Zoologie, xxx. p. 273.Google Scholar
Miall, L. C. and Hammond, A. R. (1900). The structure and life history of the Harlequin Fly (Chironomus). 196 pp. Clarendon Press, Oxford.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Schubotz, H. (1905). Beiträge zur Kenntnis der Amoeba blattae (Bütschli) und Amoeba proteus (Pall.). Arch. f. Protistenkunde, vi. pp. 1–46, 2 pls.Google Scholar